[NATIVE AMERICANS]. Large format photograph of Captain R.H. Pratt with Kiowa and Southern Cheyenne prisoners at Fort Marion. Ca 1878.

9 3/4 x 11 3/4 in. unmounted albumen photograph. Housed in a modern frame with glass on both sides (not examined out of the frame). Uncredited. Verso bears miniscule pencil inscription reading "Bishop Whipple," likely referring to Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple (1822-1901), who acted as an advocate for Native Americans.

21 Native American subjects are featured sitting in rows, with Captain Richard Henry Pratt standing to the viewer's left. They pose outside of one of the fort's masonry buildings wearing sack coats and having what appear to be kepis or forage caps in their laps. Identities of the subjects provided by Karen Daniels Petersen's Plains Indian Art from Fort Marion (and obtained by us from the Smithsonian website), from front row to back row, left to right: Little Chief, Shave Head, Nick, Buzzard, Koba, Tounkeuh, Ohettoint, Captain Pratt, Tsadeltah, Matches, Buffalo Scout, Tsaitkopeta, Soaring Eagle, White Bear, Bear's Heart, Zonekeuh, Roman Nose, Squint Eyes, White Man, Cohoe, Making Medicine, and Zotom.

Several of those pictured likely went on to attend Carlisle Indian School, a project of Captain Pratt's where Native Americans learned to become "civilized" through work and education. One confirmed student of Carlisle featured here is Matches (or Carl Matches), who is best known for his ledger drawings he created while confined at Fort Marion.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Image toned, with some wrinkling and some separations/surface cracks to left edge. Light wear to edges and corners.

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Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Katie Horstman

VP, Head of Department, American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

[email protected]513.666.4958

Ms. Horstman has spent over a decade specializing in historic photography and Americana at auction. During her tenure, she has overseen several notable single owner auctions, including property from the inventory of celebrated Americana and antique arms expert Norm Flayderman. During her time with the firm, she has maintained an active membership in the Daguerreian Society. Ms. Horstman holds an MA in Art History from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in Art History from The Ohio State University.

American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

[NATIVE AMERICANS]. Large format photograph of Captain R.H. Pratt with Kiowa and Southern Cheyenne prisoners at Fort Marion. Ca 1878.

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